Freak Out (DVD)

Even though the script predates these movies, think: Scary Movie meets Shaun of the Dead with a lot less money. In this horror-comedy, a couple of losers train their own serial killer, modeling the shy misfit after acertain slasher from Friday the 13th.

Loser #1 is Merv Doody (James Heathcote), a genuine horror aficionado and born slacker. Loser #2 is Merv's best friend, Onkey (Dan Palmer). Onkey is a big time slacker too, but he is gainfully employed (in a bowling alley / arcade), a hustler, and something of a babe-magnet.

When, on his birthday (Happy Birthday to Me…rv), Merv discovers an escaped mental patient taking refuge in his house, he seizes the opportunity with murderous glee — he could be the star-maker of the next Freddy, the next Jason, or the next Michael Myers! And, he would never have to get a job! With Merv's horror know-how and Onkey's wheeler-dealer skills, they soon set about finagling licensing deals and TV shows for their Jason wannabe.

There's just one small snafu… the spatula-wielding, lisping shy vegetarian known as "Looney" really doesn't want to harm, much less kill, anyone. As the story progresses, Looney finds his nads and starts doing as he's been instructed, but as it turns out he does it too expertly, endangering not only everyone in town, but his two "Dr. Frankensteins" as well.

Freak Out is a cute idea and it succeeds as a genre parody thanks to a smart script with good dialogue and decent acting, but the viewer's enjoyment is severely hampered due to the low, low, low budget look and feel of the movie. It's almost painful to watch at times, particularly when the scenes are overly clichéd, or allowed to drag on for far too long. Much tighter editing, fewer run-on jokes and less juvenile humor would have helped, for starters.

Freak Out is worth a look for diehard fans of cult horror or lowbrow parody, but it's just too outre for the mainstream or casual viewer.

The two-Disc Special Edition includes an audio commentary featuring director Christian James and his cowriter Dan Palmer, which is really hilarious — I enjoyed this much more than the movie alone.

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